Car-fender.



PATENTED JULY 21, 1903.

H. P. ESKELSEN.

GAR FENDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 16, 1903.

yezz/rezm Patented July 21, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

HANS P. ESKELSEN, OFPORT CLINTON, OHIO.

CAR-FENDER.

sPEoIFIcArIoN forming part of Letters mam No. 734,411, dated July 21', 1903.

Application filed May 16,1903; Serial No. 157,460. (No modem struct a fender in such manner that when not in actual use it will be held elevated above the track or road-bed by the retractile tendency of the springs of which the fender itself is formed andwhen required for use may be.

readily depressed by the motorman or other attendant, so that its forward edge shall lie close to the ground, and thus'pick up any object with which it may come in contact.

A further object of the invention is to pro-.

vide a fender which when picking up a body or weight will be depressed to its lowest position and when so depressed will be prevented from extensive downward movement and an additional supporting means will be brought into play to assist the fender-in sustaining the load.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character in which thefender is formed of a plurality of spaced springs arranged approximately in volute form at the opposite ends in order to freely yield under a load, and, further, to provide for the strengthening ofthe device by forming the springs thicker at the "central portion than at the oppositeends in order thereby to en- I able the springs to better resisttoo'sudden strains to which they are subjected and prevent bending of the springs when suddenly brought into contact wit-hthe weightora fixed 7 object.

Astill-further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character with a removable wear-shoe which protectsthe front of the fender, preventing contact with the ground and avoiding injury'to the fender when in use. 7

WVith' theseand other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may be I made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any'of the advantages of. the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a fender constructed i in accordance with the invention, showing the same in elevated position and out of contact with the rails and road-bed. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the fender as adjusted to working position. the fender. Fig. etis adetail perspective view of one of the springs of which the fender is formed. Fi 5 is a similar view of a detachable wear-shoe secured to the front of the fender.

Similar num erals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

I11 carrying out the present invention I construct a fender of a plurality of springsl, each Fig. 3 is a plan View of of the construction best shown in Fig. 4 and comprising a bar or strip of spring metal bent at about the central portion to form two arms substantially at right angles to each other. The central or body portion of each of the strips is comparatively thick and of sufficient strength to withstand all ordinary wear and prevent bending or breaking when brought into contact with a body or other object on the track. The under portions of each strip are considerably reduced in thickness to permit their free bending and allowing the whole structure to yield as it receives aperson' and thus lessen the liability of injury. The upper end of each of the strips is curved in substantially semicircular form and is attached to a cross-bar 2, arranged adjacent to the sill or buffer-platformor the car and detachably secured thereto in order to permit its convenient removal when the fenderis not required. The lower forward end of each of the strips is bent in volute form and at the extreme end is secured to a cross-bar 4', extended from side to side of the'fender', the opposite ends of said bar being connected to the side bars 5, which are extended rearwardly and upwardly and pivoted on pins or studs 7, projecting from the sides of the member or otherwise so attached as to permit swinging movement. Betweenthe two side members 5 is a third bar 8, disposed parallel with the side bars and connected at its front end to the cross-bar l and at its upper rear end to a pivotstud 7.

The center bar 8 is provided with a pair of pivot lugs or ears to which is connected the lower end of a foot-rod 9, which extends upward through a suitable guiding-opening in the car-platform and is provided with a footpiece 10 in order to place the device under the control of the motorman or other attendant in the car, it being simply necessary to exert downward pressure on the foot-rod to force the lower front end of the fender into contact with the rails or road-bed and in position to pick up a person or other object on the track.

In order to assist in supporting the fender and any load which it may pick up, the side bars 5 are provided with vertically-extending rods 11, which pass through suitable guidin gopenings in the sill or bufferplatform and are provided with heads .2, which when the fender is depressed will come into engagement with the upper surface of the sill and assist in supporting the weight and at thesame time preventing excessive downward movement of the fender.

As it is designed to place the lower front end of the fender in contact with the ground when the operative position is assumed, it is desirable to prevent wear or damage to the front ends of the springs, and for this purpose I employ a detachable wear-shoe 14 in the form of a plate, substantially troughshaped and embracing the front ends of all of the springs without preventing yielding movement of said springs when a load is received on the fender. This wear-plate is secured in place by means of a number of small bolts 15, which may be readily removed when the shoe is worn or damaged.

It will be noted that the fender is of such character as normally to assume and retain the inoperative position, the springs having an inherent tendency to assume the form shown in Fig. 1, so that it is unnecessary to employ any auxiliary springs or other devices for holding the fender in its inoperative position. I'Vhen depressed to operative position, the bars 5 and 8 will be arranged some little distance below the springs, so that there will be no rigid and unyielding surface for a body to come in contact with when struck by the fender; but should the fender come into enframe slightly elevated above the ground without the employment of auxiliary supporting devices.

2. A car-fender comprising a plurality of spaced springs each in the form of a strip of metal having thickened intermediate portions and thin terminal portions.

3. The combination in a car-fender, of a plurality of spaced strips of spring metal, attaching means for the upper ends of the strips, a pivotally-mounted frame connected to the lower ends of the strips and maintained in elevated position by said strips, and pedal mechanism'for depressiin said frame.

4. The combination in a fender, of strips formed of spring metal, a pivoted frame connected to the lower front ends of the strips, and a depressing-rod connected to the frame and extending up through the platform of the car.

5. In a carfender, a plurality of strips of spring metal, a pivoted frame to which the front ends of the strips are connected, a depressing-rod connected to the frame and extending up through the platform of the car, and auxiliary headed rods also connected to said frame and extending through guiding openings in the sill or buffer-platform of the car. 7

6. In a car-fender, a plurality of spaced strips of spring metal of which the lower front ends are curved, and a detachable wear-plate secured to and covering the curved ends of the springs.

'7. In a car-fender, a plurality of springs of spring metal having curved front ends, and a trough-like wear-plate detachably secured to said front ends.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HANS I. ESKELSEN.

Vitnessesi FRANK HoLT, J. A. IIALLINSHEAD.

III) 

